Eugene Super Regional: Oregon Ducks must wake up bats and gloves or it could be a Kent State sweep

View full sizeAP PhotoKent State pitcher Ryan Bores throws a pitch to a Purdue batter during their NCAA college baseball regional tournament game last weekend. Bores will start Game 2 of the Eugene Super Regional tonight at PK Park.

The lowdown: Oregon's sloppy play during Saturday's 7-6 loss to Kent State didn't overshadow the fact that the Golden Flashes looked like the better team – at least for one day.

Kent State center fielder Evan Campbell's had-to-have-it diving catch in center field with two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth to preserve the win put an exclamation mark on that point. The Ducks failed too often in clutch situations whereas Kent State shined.

But while Oregon's three errors were uncharacteristic of its play all season what wasn't was its inability to hit the ball. In other words, while it could be said that Oregon lost because of its errors (five unearned runs allowed) it also could be said that the Ducks would have been blown out had it not been for Kent State's control issues on the mound.

It's virtually inexcusable for a team to score just six runs when its players are walked 11 times. That's 11 free base runners. Mix in some decent hitting and a team is bound to score more than six runs by accident.

Oregon pitchers walked just one batter. Kent State had just two more hits than UO, 9-7, but had three doubles compared to one extra base hit for Oregon.

The Golden Flashes took advantage of Oregon’s errors. The Ducks failed to capitalize on Kent State’s control issues on the mound.

Oregon might not have a chance like that again tonight.

The Ducks, one of the nation's best fielding teams, probably won't commit three errors tonight and allow five unearned runs. But will they be able to generate offense against a pitcher that doesn't allow very many walks?

Bores has walked just 15 batters in 98 1/3 innings pitched. Oregon's plate discipline helped it stay in Saturday's game. The Ducks will need to hit well against Bores in order to win unless Reed pitches lights out against a good team that has now won 21-straight.

Oregon allowed just two earned runs Saturday, but that doesn't exactly mean Kent State didn't earn the other five. The Golden Flashes can swing it. Oregon had better find a way to do the same or this thing ends tonight.